Assessment of the Psycho-Socio-Economic Problems and Coping Mechanisms of Internally Displaced People in Ethiopia, The case of Internally Displaced People in Burayu Settlement Camp
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Date
2019-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study is the assessment of psycho-socio-economic problems of internally displaced people in Burayu settlement camp and their coping mechanisms. This people are displaced from their place of origin due to the inter-ethnic conflict that happened between Oromo and Somali ethnic groups living around the borders in eastern part of Ethiopia. Among the displaced people, there are 2800 people who have settled in Burayu settlement camp. The objective of this study was to assess the psycho socio-economic problems of displaced people in Burayu settlement camp and to identify the coping mechanisms being used by these people. To conduct this study, a qualitative research design with a phenomenological research approach was used. The lived experience of displaced people on their psycho-socio-economic problems and the coping mechanisms they are using were assessed through in-depth interview with eight research participants purposively selected based on pre-determined criteria and two focus group discussions with two different groups. In order to substantiate data collected through in-depth interview and FGD, observation to the camp setting where IDPs currently living was done. A phenomenological qualitative research method was used to do the analysis of the finding. The assessment result shows that, IDPs in Burayu settlement camp have been facing different psycho-socio-economic problems such as trauma, marginalization and discrimination, unemployment, lack of access to financial resource, shortage of food, shortage of monthly ration, lack of access to social services, inaccessibility to school and health, inconvenience and lack of infrastructure in the camp setting and lack of power to decide on their future and nonexistence of institution that deal with their issues. To overcome their problems, the displaced people are using different coping mechanisms which are mainly negative coping mechanisms. As a coping mechanism, the displaced people have adopted reduction in meal consumption pattern and size, selling of their monthly ration, begging, dropping their children from school, staying in the camp to escape from labeling and discrimination are the major one. These displaced people have owned some resources, experience and skills which can be capitalized on to design interventions. Though there are critical psycho-social problems that IDPs are facing, there is little intervention done by government. As the displaced people prefer local integration with host community, the intervention mechanism should design in the way that can ensure integration and bring lasting solution for displaced people.
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Psycho-Socio-Economic Problems and Coping Mechanisms